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GMA Network
21 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
SOJ Remulla: There is a new witness in missing sabungeros case
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday authorities will soon present a new witness in the case of the missing sabungeros that will bolster the credibility of whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy. 'Napakahagala. It bolsters the credibility of Totoy,' Remulla said in an ambush interview. ((It's) Very important. It bolsters the credibility of Totoy.) 'Hindi lang ito testimonial evidence. May real evidence na involved dito. Meron dito totoong ebidensya na bukod sa kwento,' he later added. (This is not just testimonial evidence. There is real evidence involved here. There is actual proof aside from the story.) Patidongan, one of the accused in the case, previously told authorities that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake. According to Remulla, the new witness is a civilian whose name has yet to appear in media reports. Police officer relieved from post Meanwhile, Remulla also met with PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III at the Department of Justice main building. He said he extended his gratitude to Torre for agreeing to his request to relieve a service commander from the case. 'Nakiusap ako kay General Torre na i-relieve yung isang service commander at nangyari naman. Kaya ngayon malinaw na naman ang aming landas patungo sa paglutas ng problemang ito,' he said. (I asked General Torre to relieve a service commander and it happened. So now our path toward resolving this problem is once again clear.) The Justice secretary clarified that the service commander was not removed for supposed involvement in the disappearance of the sabungeros, but due to a lack of trust. 'Meron siyang kinilos na hindi ko gusto,' he said. (He did something that I didn't like,) 'Alam ninyo napakahalaga ng gantong tiwala sa prosesong ito. Tiwala ang pinakamahalagang ano dito, magkaroon. Kasi kapag wala kang tiwala, paano magsasalita ang mga tao. Hindi buo ang tiwala. 'Yun lang ang aking sinigurado,' he added. (You know, trust is very important in this process. Trust is the most important thing here, to have. Because if you don't have trust, how will people speak? The trust isn't whole. That's the only thing I made sure of.) He said the service commander is also not among the 12 cops who are accused of being involved in the case. The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has found probable cause to file an administrative case against these cops. Remulla said he will compare notes with NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan regarding the direction of the investigation. Aside from this, he said he will also talk to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week regarding the case. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025), Marcos said the entire government is doing everything to solve the case of missing sabungeros, noting that even those with influence, who are allegedly involved in the crime, will never be above the law. Meanwhile, Remulla said that the search and retrieval operation at the Taal Lake has also resumed after it was temporarily suspended due to inclement weather. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
NAPOLCOM finds probable cause vs. 12 cops in missing sabungeros case
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) found probable cause against the 12 cops who are accused of being involved in the case of the missing sabungeros, according to Allan Gatus' report on Super Radyo dzBB. Among the 12 cops are three officials and nine non-commissioned officers. Due to the finding, the administrative case will now continue against the cops, who may face removal from service. Based on the report, NAPOLCOM Investigation and Monitoring director Edman Pares said the finding is based on the affidavit of whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan. Patidongan and the families of the missing sabungeros filed their complaint last week. FLASH REPORT: National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), nakakita ng probable cause sa inihain na reklamo laban sa 12 pulis na isinasangkot sa 'missing sabungeros.' | via @allangatus — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 29, 2025 SONA Meanwhile, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan said that two groups approached him to settle the case of the missing sabungeros. This was reportedly before Patidongan and the families filed their complaint. Based on the report, Calinisan also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push for accountability in his fourth State of the Nation Address was a great help to the finding. Marcos previously said the entire government is doing everything to solve the case of missing sabungeros, noting that even those with influence, who are allegedly involved in the crime, will never be above the law. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
12-07-2025
- GMA Network
Patidongan to file complaint affidavit vs cops linked to missing sabungeros
Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy says he will go to NAPOLCOM on Monday, July 14, 2025. Whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy on Saturday announced he will be filing a complaint affidavit against police officers whom he claimed were involved in the case of missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts). 'Sa Lunes, pupunta ako ng NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission)… 'Yung mga pulis na nabanggit ko ay kakasuhan ko na sa NAPOLCOM,' Patidongan said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (On Monday, I will go to NAPOLCOM. I will file a complaint against the police officers I mentioned.) Last Saturday, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson Atty. Rafael Calinisan urged Patidongan to file a complaint affidavit with the agency against some police officers who were allegedly involved in the case of the missing sabungeros. The NAPOLCOM said earlier it already has a list of police officers linked to the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts. The police commission has been investigating cops who were linked to the disappearance of the sabungeros for the administrative aspect of the case. A total of 15 cops were placed under restrictive custody at Camp Crame, Quezon City for their alleged involvement in the abduction of the sabungeros as claimed by Patidongan. Some of the 15 cops in restrictive custody were included in the list of those who allegedly received up to P2 million monthly payola from businessman Atong Ang, who was among the supposed masterminds in the disappearances, as claimed by Patidongan. During the radio interview, Patidongan said one of the cops involved, who is still active in service, owns a fishpond in Taal Lake. 'Siguro doon dinala at doon isinagawa ang pagpaslang sa missing sabungeros,' he said. (Maybe that is where the missing sabungeros were brought and where they were killed.) On Thursday, Calinisan said another potential witness in the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts was able to send additional information or feelers on the case. According to the NAPOLCOM official, the potential potential witness has a connection with Patidongan. A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games. Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake. He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. 'Sa sobrang dami niyan, hindi ko masyadong matandaan kung ilan ang inilubog nila diyan (Taal Lake). Base sa mga video na sinend sa akin, talagang may inilubog diyan,' Patidongan said. (Due to their big number, I cannot remember much how many [sabungeros] were thrown there.) 'Sa sobrang dami, ang ginagawa nilang mabilisan... baka chinop-chop nila 'yan... Nilagyan nila ng pabigat na buhangin...,' he said. (Because there were so many of the missing sabungeros, they had to do the killing quick. It's possible that they chopped up their bodies. They added sand as added weight.) Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard have found and are retrieving more sacks at the bottom of the Taal Lake in Batangas, following the retrieval of a sack containing what appeared to be burned human bones. —KG, GMA Integrated News
